Pasta con Lenticchie (Pasta with Lentils)

300g short cut pasta - used whole wheat rotini
200g brown or green lentils

Soffrito vegetables
1 large carrot, finely diced
1/2 medium red pepper, finely diced
1 small onion, finely diced
1 small stalk of celery, finely diced

2 cloves of garlic
1 med tomato, finely chopped
about 1/2 tsp finely chopped rosemary
2 tbsp olive oil
about 3 cupfuls of water
Salt and black pepper to season

1. Using a large pan, heat the olive oil and fry the 'soffrito' vegetables and chopped garlic till soft but not browned.
2. Add the chopped tomato and fry for a further minute or so.
3. Add the chopped rosemary and the lentils. Finally, add the water then cover and cook for 20-25mins, till lentils are soft. Season with salt and pepper.(Keep an eye on them and check occasionally to make sure the lentils don't dry out too much, adding a little more water if necessary).
4. In the meantime cook your pasta and drain.
5. Just before serving mix the hot lentils into the pasta and serve with an extra drizzle of olive oil if desired.

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MADEMCHE.